DEBATING SOCIETY: The February meeting of the society will be held in the St James's church rooms at 8pm on February 26, when the motion will be this house believes that the national obsession with gardening keeps the British sane. The motion will be proposed by Dr Michael Amphlett, a scientist who runs his own software company; he will be seconded by Mrs Gillian Gander, who was a civil servant in Canada and now lives, and gardens, in Chipping Campden. Opposing the motion is Mr Tony Eastaugh, who describes himself as a horticultural asylum seeker; he will be seconded by the Canon Jim Seaton, a retired canon of the Church of England. All four speakers are members of the society.

As always, visitors are very welcome and invited to contribute from the floor and vote on the motion.

Members are looking forward to the society's 70th anniversary celebration dinner on Friday, March 4 at the Dormy House Hotel, when the guest of honour will be Mrs Valerie Mitchell OBE, director general of the English Speaking Union.